Read the dialogue from Act III of Hamlet. Hamlet: Now, mother, what’s the matter? Gertrude: Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. Hamlet: Mother, you have my father much offended. The structure of these lines shows that Queen Gertrude is caught between her new husband and her son. Hamlet is observing conflict between his mother and father. Queen Gertrude feels Hamlet should disobey King Claudius. Hamlet is torn between his love for Claudius and his own father.
